Stay ConnectedMembers of OA in San Francisco share what it was like, what happened, and what life is like now.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is a community of people who through shared experience, strength and hope are recovering from unhealthy relationships with food and body image. OA’s twelve-step program works like Alcoholics Anonymous except it helps us deal with food.
OA in San Francisco: https://www.oasf.org/
More about Overeaters Anonymous: https://oa.org/
Katie H. (Step, Speaker, Into Action Meeting; Feb 2019)
Frank, member since 1979, identifies as a recovered compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Frank's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: weights & dates • 350-400 lbs home high weight range • Steps 1, 2, 3 • atheism & HP • relapse • counting calories • correlation between meeting attendance & level of recovery • a one-day-at-a-time program, but that day was tomorrow • a meeting a day for first 3 years out of relapse • selfishness & self-centeredness • Step 10 with amends • relapse is a process, not an event • SUDs: seemingly unimportant decisions • ego • relapse & Step 1
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Anonymous, member since 2001, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Anonymous' share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: it’s about the food • OA: a 3-pronged program (the physical, the emotional, & the spiritual) • what I was like (developing bad habits at a young age) • practicing Steps -1 thru -12 in all of my affairs (Bizarro World 12 Steps) • finding OA • using the Tools of Recovery as a newcomer • gifts of recovery • epiphany: wanting children • feeling normal for the 1st time • food made me feel less out of place • post-move 30 meetings in 30 days • Step 1 versus Step 7 (powerLESSness versus powerFULness) • comparing Step 7 to Tradition 1 • Steps are about me & Traditions are about we • humility • gift of clarity
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Punam, member since 2003-2004, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Punam’s share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: 100-pound weight loss • hopeless after failed diets • overeating since childhood • stole food & money for food • physical consequences (diabetes & hypertension) • wanting to be transformed (mulling over surgery) • discovering OA through local newspaper • 1st meeting: homecoming • what is abstinence? • 1st day off sugar • afraid of losing weight & being thin • writing about fear • daily 10th Step • 3rd & 7th Step prayers • relief from giving away Step work • HP’s care & availability
Note: End of recording cut short due to technical issue.
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Carol, member since 1987, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Carol's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: nearly 32 years of abstinence & 130-140-lbs weight loss • 100 pounder meetings • knowing things by food • doctor at age 10: "lose weight or be called 'fatso'" • doesn't matter why • genetic predisposition, emotional factors, & unhealthy eating modeled • diets • physically painful being a century person • driven by the food • learning of OA via AA • 1st OA meeting & 1st day of abstinence • tough love versus love • emotional withdrawals from food • moments of real joy (The Promises) • looking at my part • abstinence is the source of my emotional serenity
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Kate, member since 2014, identifies as a compulsive overeater. Kate's share from the Thursday evening LGBT Body Image & Sexuality Meeting includes the following themes: fitting into OA categories • the noise & not feeling safe • control over what I ate & who I date • place to put my volcanic experiences • about the food & not about the food • choosing grad school over chef school • ready to take care of myself (starting OA) • perfect weight didn’t remove chaos from my life • original plan: 3 meetings a week, turn over food, & try not eating sugar • Steps 10, 11, & 12 daily • finished grad school, working full-time, & fully self-supporting in Bay Area • relationship with mom • OA family • sitting with discomfort
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